A Park Bench on Sunday

It wasn’t my usual Sunday park bench, but of all the ones this wintry afternoon, it was empty. Settling in for some fresh (frozen!) air, I fixed my coat underneath me. As I was adjusting my scarf and hat so that all possible skin was covered except my eyes, I heard a gentle male voice.

“Mind if I sit here?”

Glancing over, it seemed he’d already ‘sat there’, but the bench was more than accommodating for two. I reached up and pulled my scarf down to respond.

“Sure.” I mean, the old dude had already sat down.

“Delores and I sit here after church every week,” he coughed a bit and chuckled. I thought it wasn’t great weather for an elderly gentleman without a jacket, but it wasn’t my business, right?

I didn’t look over, just nodded politely. And, no, I didn’t offer to move – Delores obviously wasn’t here yet.

He cleared his throat again and continued.

“Likes layers, my Delores.” He laughed out loud this time. “Lord, that woman is always cold!” He leaned over toward me and lowered his voice. “Think she just likes me to keep her warm, eh?”

I turned and caught a glimpse of the warmest eyes ever placed on such a weathered face… although their depths sang of years of love and laughter. He winked when our eyes met and sat back up straight. Yep, I had to answer him that time.

Again, I endeavored to lower my scarf.  “Yep, I’ll bet she does.” To my own surprise, I sounded quite sincere…

He nodded in affirmation this time, only to stop abruptly and turn toward me again.

“Oh!” He exclaimed, causing me to look directly at him. “I’m Henry, by the way.”

Getting a better look at him this time, I could tell that Henry had been quite the looker in his day. I also decided he had to be freezing his butt off because he was sitting in jeans and some light work boots. This time, I pulled my scarf all the way down and nodded all friendly-like.

“I’m Alicia, Henry.” I smiled best I could in the cold.

“You have a beautiful smile, Alicia! Hope to see you again some time.”

I turned away just in time for a tiny lady in at least fifteen layers to step up and sit down… right where Henry had been!

I hopped up for… what? To find Henry? To fuss at the lady? I don’t know, but all I could do was stare at her, horrified!

And she broke into the heartiest laughter I’d ever heard from someone who looked to be about a hundred years old…

“I’m guessing you met my Henry, baby,” she managed, digging out a tissue to dry her eyes. “He promised we’d sit here every Sunday right before the ambulance took him from me that last time four years ago.”

“You… I mean…, Henry is…”